Chapter 13

Theanna, unable to sleep, looked over at her mate as he snored softly, the day's events had exhausted him. With a soft smile, she smoothed his hair away from his face which held an almost boyish softness to it in his sleep. Quietly getting out of bed, she slipped on her nightgown and walked out their patio doors onto their private garden which was alive with the life of the Dark Realms. Her nightgown flowed around her as she appreciated the flowers and mini-dragons that flitted about. The mini-dragons, Violetears as they were called, reminded her of hummingbirds on Earth. She absolutely loved watching them.

Sitting down on a nearby bench, she thought about recent events. She still didn't know why the Titans had attacked and that above all else bothered her. Growling in frustration, she ran her hands over her face.

“I can answer many of your questions, child,” a powerful voice stated softly next to her.

Thea watched as Chaos appeared in a flash of bright light. He was large, larger than most of her guardian Daemoni, and powerfully built. His long stark white hair was pulled back with a leather tie that matched his simple leather pants and shirt. He was ageless and extremely handsome. With a smile she looked at his iridescent eyes, her favorite feature on him.

“One day when Damian and I decide to have children again, I hope at least one has your beautiful eyes,” she charmed.

“I think I would enjoy getting to know your children. I can only imagine the handfuls they’ll be,” he teased as he pulled her into a hug. “You’ve done well. It’s days like today when being a ruler is far from easy. If I'd known the Titans were going to attack I would’ve alerted you. I'm sorry I didn’t.”

“Do you know why they did?” she asked him.

“I do, but that involves a story,” Chaos said as he smoothed an errant piece of pink hair behind Thea's ear.

Getting comfortable, not realizing that several Violetears settled on her shoulders and gown to listen to the great Chaos tell a story, Thea smiled and said, “I haven't been told a good story in way too long.”

“Well, let's begin then. Before the days of the realms, Celestia alone existed, but those that resided there became bored. So, to keep them out of trouble, I tasked them to create the different realms. Some were large, such as the Dark Realms, others small, like Hy-Breasal land of the Dark Fae.

“Once I approved each realm, we filled each one with life that was unique and served a purpose. The Titans were created and existed for one purpose, to carry out my orders. They had the ability to shift into any living thing imaginable and once they had, they created that life. All appeared well, until Earth was created. I decided that Earth's main life should look the most like the Celestians and humans should be made so that they could grow and surpass even us.

“This made the Titans very angry. They believed that they had already surpassed Celestians. They felt that the only thing humans were of any use for was to serve them. Just as vampires view humans as food, and many Daemoni used to view humans as a way to build up their realms and thus their power, the same went for the Titans. They wanted to create a life form that was only to be used as their slaves.

“They refused my orders, instead they revolted against all Celestians. I don't take well to revolt and I especially didn't then. I also don't believe any life's purpose is to be a slave to another. After a great battle of Celestian versus Titan, the Titans lost. As punishment for their revolt and misuse of powers, I banished the Titans to a barren realm called Talos and I stripped them of their abilities and powers, in many ways they were little more than the humans they hated.

“Not all of the Titans revolted though. Many remained fiercely loyal to us and even fought against those that’d turned. To reward them I asked what it was that they wished for most. After much debate and thought, they all agreed that they wished to live on Earth and run with a favorite of their creations, the wolves.

“After humans were created, they no longer wanted the ability to create life. They felt with that power came the allure to misuse it, but if they gave it up they would lose the ability to shift. So after discussing this with me, I decided that they deserved what they wished for most. I gave them back the ability to shift, but only into wolves.”

“The Lycans,” Thea gasped.

“Yes, the Lycans. They no longer wanted to be known as Titans since that name was dishonored. They became known as Lycans, the proud race of werewolves. Filtairn reminds me of his ancestors. He’s proud and honorable like they were. It didn't surprise me that he was the first non-Daemoni to swear allegiance to you as High Queen. You’ve been very wise in those that you seek council from. It's so easy to fall under the power of those that only seek power for themselves.”

“Damian taught me well. It was he that told me to trust my gut and to ignore how things were previously done. He said that I was a new Queen and could do as I pleased. It’s Damian that I trust above all others. He’s proven to me time and again that the only person he’s completely loyal to is his mate, me. Many of the high-level Daemoni make fun of him when they think I don’t hear. I'm not sure what to do about that. If I were still Nihasia I would simply eat them all,” Thea laughed.

“May I make a suggestion for you to think on?” Chaos asked.

Thea looked at him in surprise. He was the great Chaos, he could do more than make a suggestion, he could order her. “Of course! You never need to ask that!”

“Give him a title that is above all others. One that sits just below you but with power of its own. Present your full authority to him and those that mock will fall in line quickly, or else face your wrath. Sometimes a little fear goes a long way, like Tiamat. Sometimes it’s the ‘bullies,’ as humans call them, that need to be reminded of your power and authority.”

Thea nodded at the truth of that. “I like that, a lot. I'll have to think of something befitting. Thank you. We've shifted off topic a bit, but I wanted to ask about why the Titans would attack the Dark Realms of all places. It doesn't make sense to me. They had to know we'd be prepared for them. You’d think they would attack Earth since they hated humans so much.”

“It’s because once every thousand years or so, there’s one Lycan born with the ability to shift into all lifeforms. They don't have the ability to create life, only to shift. When that child becomes of age, a countdown begins until the next Red Moon. It was because of this countdown that the Titans decided to attack now.

“When the Titans lost their abilities to create life, living aether, called Neysa, left them. Neysa is the most powerful force there is. It can create and destroy, depending on who controls it. Most of that Neysa returned to the Source of all things. A small amount did not. That Neysa is in hiding because it knows its power is so dangerous. Theanna, may I see your sword?”

“Yes,” she replied, confused. Bringing forth her sword, the sword given to her by Chaos when she was crowned High Queen. Once in hand, she handed it to Chaos.

Rubbing a hand over the glowing gem in the hilt, he gently removed it and cradled it in his hand while he placed the sword down. As he touched the gem reverently, he told her, “Here is where it hides, with you.”

“Wait! You mean to tell me that absolutely beautiful gemstone that adorned my sword is living aether?” Thea asked in shock.

“It is. It chose you, my child. It knew you wouldn’t abuse its power. Unfortunately, though, word somehow reached the Titans that your sword held the Neysa. If you hadn’t taken down the General when you had, he would’ve tried to take your sword from you. Fortunately, they weren’t successful.

“The Neysa is only part of what the Titans were looking for. They were also looking for a Lycan Chalice that was hidden long ago somewhere in the Dark Realms. It was lost to time. They must suspect a location, though.”

“What happens if they locate it?”

“Were the Titans able to free the Neysa from this stone, pour it into that chalice and force the special Lycan child to drink the Neysa on the night of the Red Moon, the power to create would return to her blood. They would then drain her blood and consume it. It would be then that all that I took from them would be returned. Unfortunately, it would be at great cost to everyone else. All that has come to be would be unmade, destroyed to go back to how it was on the day they lost their powers.”

Theanna hung her head with a deep sigh. “Why does it always have to mean the end of the world?”

Chaos chuckled. “Perhaps because when we did things, we never did them halfway.”

“Well, stop it! Saving the world is a trope that's been overdone time and time again. It's tiresome.”

Chaos laughed. “Ah child, you above all make me laugh as I never have before.”

“Thanks, I think,” Thea smirked at him. “Ok, so we know where the Neysa is and I have a good idea who the child is. We simply have to find the chalice, keep everything from the Titans, stop them from pulling this crap again, and basically save the world. Should be easy-peasy, and yet we all know it won't be because inevitably the Titans will do something to screw everything up.”

“Of course, after all, that's how the trope works.”

Theanna looked at Chaos with surprise and laughed. “I must admit I didn't expect that quip from the great Chaos.”

“It must be your influence.” Sobering up he added, “The Titans are immune to much because they were once from Celestia. There’s one thing that even most Celestians are susceptible to. It's a poison called the Ash of Death. It's extremely dangerous not only to inflict but to create. It’s forbidden to all and is under the control of the Lords of the Magick Consortium.”

“Are you? Please tell me you aren't?”

“No, I'm one of the very few who isn't. Probably because I created it,” Chaos told her slyly.

Thea looked into his eyes for several long moments before bursting out in laughter. “Of course you did. I'd expect no less. So let's see... all those things I just mentioned and we add talking to the Magick Consortium. I’m sure there’s a hundred little things I'm not including on the ever growing list,” Thea sighed. “Why did I agree to become High Queen again?”

“The ability to boss people around?” Chaos suggested with a smirk.

“Not seeming like a real perk lately. Ok, all of this is starting to hurt my head. Oh! One last question. If we prevent all of this from happening, what happens to the Lycan child?”

“On the night of the Red Moon she’ll simply return to being a normal Lycan.”

“Finally, something easy to fix. Ok, I think I'm going to rejoin my husband in bed. Thank you for always supporting me,” she smiled as she stood up and gave him a hug, the Violetears flitting about her.

“Sleep well, my beautiful Queen,” Chaos smiled as he watched her head back to her bedroom. She was surpassing every hope and desire he had for her. If she maintained the path she was on, she would soon be ready to fulfill her true destiny.